What the new importance of digital in arts and culture has shown most clearly is that now is the time to reinvent – not reinstate – the sector’s role in society, writes Samantha Lindley.
Adrian Vinken shares how the two biggest developments of 2020 – Black Lives Matter and Covid-19 – have affected commemorations of a brutal story of colonisation.
Covid-19 has intensified the barriers women face to becoming leaders in the arts, writes Sacha Lee. The most marginalised will be the most important vehicle for change.
UK Music launches a plan to keep up the momentum, as research shows the gains are concentrated in entry level positions rather than middle or senior management.
UK Music has published its industry-wide ten-point plan for a diverse music ecosystem. But it’s actions, not words, that will bring about lasting change, says Ammo Talwar.
Right now past data is a poor predictor of the future, but understanding the scale and nature of change while responding to issues and initiatives of importance to funders will be vital to future success, say Michelle Wright and Sarah Thelwall.
Unconsicous bias can leave even well-meaning organisations with blind spots on diversity and inclusion. Roxan Kamali-Sarvestani explains what they can do to avoid this – and how Talawa Theatre Company is supporting them.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will be making fewer, larger grants in future and collaborating on longer term projects that have a real chance of being taken to scale. Alison Holdom explains their new strategy and what they hope to achieve.
Disabled freelancers can teach the sector a lot about how to overcome limitations to make and adapt work in new and exciting ways, so look for them, use them … and pay them, says Lisette Auton.
“We must use this time to reset values and make our industry and institutions more relevant for the whole of society.” Janet Archer draws together this summer’s Edinburgh Culture Conversations.
Birmingham REP has found a formula that is not only strengthening mental health resilience among young Black men, but also tackling the systemic inequalities they face. Samina Beckford tells the story.
Jenni Grainger gives a personal account of the harsh reality of juggling childcare and being furloughed while attempting to steer an organisation through a crisis.
How can the sector better support its Black, Asian and ethnically diverse creative practitioners and workforce? Eclipse Theatre’s Amanda Huxtable shares insights from their report ‘How to plant magic beans AND build rockets to the moon…’
God? Art? Heritage? Education? In the face of a financial reckoning and a crisis of balance, can cathedral choirs harness their transformational potential before becoming an irrelevant heritage industry for the soul, asks Thomas Leech.
Apprenticeships could help level the playing field and help those from less advantaged backgrounds enter the arts and cultural sector, but it isn’t happening. Plain old prejudice is getting in the way, says Sara Whybrew.
A Fond Farewell to ArtsProfessional
Amanda Parker shares her parting words as Editor of ArtsProfessional.